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Re-Designing the Space

As we talked with the client, we quickly identified their desire to bring more light and openness to the home’s main living areas, something that’s not typical in a 1920’s Tudor-Style home. Our original remodel of the home came at a time when their children were young and living at home. Today, as empty nesters, the client wanted to use the space differently. They openly shared their goals of having more space, improving the flow, and incorporating the outdoors into their home. Having worked with RIGGS on multiple projects in the past, they knew they could trust our proposed solutions and welcomed our ideas.

The first idea was a big one. As we examined the layout, we recognized that the kitchen was simply not in an ideal location for how the clients wanted to live and entertain. When the children lived at home, it served them well, but today’s needs called for a different solution. Our suggestion was to move it to the other side of the house where it would find itself in the heart of the action for entertaining. Once that was agreed upon, we suggested a series of modifications to the main floor layout, including the removal of walls to brighten the space and improve flow, as well as building a new bathroom and entry area to serve the backyard pool.

The Kitchen Remodel

A larger, light and airy new kitchen was created for the home, featuring a wall of windows to allow the client a full view of their property, as well as a simplification of the space for a more open feel. No wall cabinets were included in the design, which initially was difficult for the clients to understand. We alleviated their concerns by adding a butler’s pantry to maximize storage and house their double oven, a beloved appliance they wanted to keep, but for which there was little wall space in the main kitchen area. They were pleased that the design gave them everything they were asking for.

Existing cabinetry was used, while unique and beautiful tile was installed on the walls. A custom cabinet was designed for the end of the island to house dishes and glassware traditionally stored in wall cabinets, providing further confidence to the client that the removal of wall cabinets was realistic. The installation of additional windows maximized the light coming in to the space. All of these details worked together to create the modern and open feel that the clients dreamed of.

The Home “Remix”

In addition to the relocation and remodeling of the kitchen, this project also included the removal of many walls to open the flow of the home and create more usable, connected space. Areas that were part of this phase of the remodel included the home office, dining room and a loft area that the clients lovingly refer to as “the tree house.” Opening up the tree house created a family room, allowing the client to relocate the television from the formal living room and into this more casual space. A new office space was also created, while the former home office space was transformed into a new dining room by enlarging the opening, now designed to match the beautiful arched openings throughout the home.

These spaces, among others in the home which often were ignored, are now functional, connected and used by the client on a daily basis.

The Bathroom Remodel

The property features a large pool in the backyard, so the clients wanted to create an entry area and bathroom that would be accessible to visitors of the pool. We designed a simple yet striking fully tiled bathroom that would stand up to the wet feet and swimsuits that the room was sure to welcome. The entry area serves as an indoor “pool house” right in their own basement, serving as the perfect changing room, providing guests a great place to hang towels, kick off their flip flops, and store other pool toys and accessories. The creation of this space allowed the homeowners the functionality of a full pool house, eliminating the need to build a standalone, outdoor structure to serve this purpose.

The Basement Remodel

As is the case with many older homes, the basement had low ceilings and space that wasn’t ideal for use by the client, most notably, the man of the house who sought a space that would function well for his daily activities of watching sports, caring for the family dog, and outdoor grilling.

To address his needs, we opened up the space, raising the original ceiling as much as possible. We went on to remodel the bar area to create a mini-kitchenette, and designed the space with an open, more modern feel to replace to existing 1950’s style that had previously been in place.

The client also expressed his desire for the lower level space to flow seamlessly into the outdoors. We achieved this through the installation of an 8-foot sliding patio door which opens onto a large outside living area featuring an outdoor kitchen and television.

The Results

The client couldn’t be more pleased with the work we performed on their whole house remodel. All rooms in the home welcome more light, and rooms that previously went unused are now seeing daily activity and purpose. The flow of the home is now perfect for entertaining, something the clients love to do. The client can serve outdoor guests directly through her kitchen windows. The opening of the interior space created improved sight lines throughout the home, bringing the outdoors and the pool area in view and making the outdoor spaces feel closer.

Visitors to the home, including their grown children, are enjoying the home in new ways and making new memories along the way.

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Hidden Appliances

Who said a refrigerator had to look like refrigerator? Hidden appliances are items that are made to look like cabinets with the same design and hardware, in particular, kitchen items. All appliances, including microwaves and toasters, can be easily molded into the design scheme. If you’re one to reside in the kitchen regularly, you’ll have an attraction to disguised cabinetry. These pieces are cozy, clean and uncluttered overall. Do away with the stainless-steel appliances in the new year and appeal with a bit of ambiguity.

Wood Paneling

If you’re looking to win over your grandparents and grasp hold of some of the seasonal styles, wood paneling is the trend that will help you prevail. The basement wood is old news, and the new paneling is more multifaceted than before. The new panels are rich in color, texture and tones with a ton of creative use. In 2017, you can catch the wood panels on walls, ceilings, backsplashes and more. You can play in paint when you’re bored to breathe life into a room without utilizing a ton of money. Take your guest back to the good ole days with a brand new spin.

Graphic Tile

Tile of today is not your traditional Carrera marble, it’s pure magic. Modern technology of porcelain has stepped in to create patterns on the floors and walls that work well in both traditional and contemporary settings. The patterns, shapes and colors have the power to turn common kitchen and basic bathrooms into something desirable. The old patterns from the past has found a new purpose in the future.

Induction Tops

Something different in the new year is durability and it starts with induction tops. Yes, the induction top has been around for a while, but its finally starting to find its place in the industry. Always remaining cool to the touch, this top offers immediate control of temperature and maintains low heat levels for hours. This induction top is energy efficient and makes for an easy cleanup off of a smooth surface. Say your final goodbyes to your electric and gas cooktops, there’s a new cook in the kitchen.

A new year is the mark of new beginnings, so why not start off by spicing things up a bit? If you’re feeling a little frisky and willing to get your hands dirty, dash to the kitchen to do away with the pieces of the past and incorporate that killer kitchen you’ve been dreaming about.

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Here is our guide to creating a comfortable kitchen space for kids and adults to cook, talk and spend time together.

• Keep it organized. Add pantries, drawers, cabinets and shelving for ample storage. Create a place for everything from kitchen equipment, utensils, kids’ stuff and anything else you might need.
• We’ve had several families create a separate kid friendly base cabinet with roll out drawers just for the kids. This is the perfect place for lunch boxes, travel water bottle or anything your kids might need, right within their reach.
• Add a blackboard. Use blackboard and create a blackboard to leave notes, reminders or encouraging quotes for your family. This is a great way to stay connected and get the whole family involved. No more post-it’s or papers scattered around the kitchen!
• Designated homework station. Fashion a space specifically for homework, crafts or games in the kitchen, this way the family can stay together, talk, ask questions and spend quality time together. Kitchen island or breakfast bars are excellent places to pull up a chair and spend time together.
• Open floor plan. An open floor plan is ideal for keeping an eye on your kids or interacting with guests while continuing your work in the kitchen. No one likes being isolated in the kitchen when all the activity is going on in another room!
• Keep it clean. Stainless steel has a very modern, sleek look, but it can be a lot of work to maintain and keep clean, especially with kids. Black appliances are an excellent choice and easy to keep looking new, but another great option would be investing in appliance front panels. With appliance front panels, you can still have the stainless steel appliances you love, without worrying about the maintenance. Did you fall in love with a certain countertop but are nervous that your kids, who might be prone to spills, are likely to stain your new surface? Don’t worry, now there are sealers for every type of countertop that can protect the natural beauty from your messy kiddos. Quartz countertops are also a great option for active families. You want to spend as much time enjoying your kitchen with your family, not constantly cleaning and tidying up the area.

For other kitchen ideas, be sure to check out our Pinterest board for inspiration and visit our website to see some of our past kitchen projects.

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To give you an idea of what your basement could look like, we would like to showcase one of our favorite custom basement remodels. This project incorporated a custom designed bar area complete with custom cabinetry, wet bar, refrigerator and convection oven with plenty of counter space for mixing and serving food and beverages.

What really makes this space special is the wine cellar. When we create custom basement remodels for homeowners, we really want to make sure the space reflects their personal passions.

In this particular case, the homeowner’s love for wine led to us designing and building a custom wine cellar. The wine racks were designed to store the couple’s extensive wine collection, along with beautiful granite countertops for displaying and tasting when entertaining guests. This fully furnished basement den will allow the couple to entertain both family and friends for years to come.

If you are looking to create the perfect basement area in your home, please feel free to give RIGGS a call today. We offer superior design, planning and remodeling solutions that are second to none. Drop us a line or visit us online 24/7 at www.riggscompanystl.com

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The kitchen is where many of your guests will congregate this holiday season. Here are a few cost-efficient tips that will give your kitchen a whole new look and feel.

1. Cabinets – If your cabinets are in good shape, a fresh coat of paint will give them a brand new life! Remove the doors and begin cleaning and sanding all surfaces. We also recommend using a good primer. Choose a nice crisp color and apply two coats of paint. Let the paint fully dry before reinstalling the doors.
2. Hardware – Often times, new cabinet hardware can make a huge difference. Remove door handles and pulls, and choose new hardware that will update the look of the space. It’s a quick and easy fix that anyone can do, and many styles are available at most local hardware stores.
3. Faucets – A new faucet can give any old sink a fresh new look. To meet your needs, faucets come in a wide array of styles and finishes. Additionally, faucets are easy to install too. Just remember: be sure to turn off your water supply before you start!

As you can see, there are several ways to freshen up your kitchen before the holiday season arrives. If you need assistance with any of your home updates or maintenance projects, RIGGS is here to help!

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